Azimut Grande G25 Metri
Next up is the remarkable Azimut Grande G25 Metri, the largest yacht on our list and a living testament to just how far Italian builder Azimut has come in the world of luxury yachts. After all, it’s hard to forget that Azimut started out just five decades ago building boats that even the company itself now admits represented ‘the lower end of the market.’ But the Italian yacht builder has continually raised the bar and now produces some of the most magnificent yachts afloat – in large measure thanks to the creative genius of its colourful leader, Paolo Vitelli. Today, Azimut concentrates on the very top end of the market with inspired models like the stunning Grande G25 Metri. Stretching precisely 25m in length, the G25 Metri is actually the smallest model in the company’s Grande series. But the trim G25 is indeed Grande in every sense that counts. For starters, it’s a truly grand design built with a fibreglass hull and a carbon superstructure to cut weight and lower the yacht’s centre of gravity, ensuring a smooth ride in even lumpy seas. Of course, there’s a hydraulicallyactuated swim platform out back, with more than enough space to stow a two-seat personal watercraft. Pushing a discreet button at the stern opens a large transom door, revealing a hidden tender garage, along with oodles of storage space for gear like dive tanks. Up on the main deck, the inviting cockpit beckons you to plop down and get comfy with its plush, L-shaped settee and companion pedestal-base wooden table. Freestanding deck chairs create a wonderful private outdoor space for morning coffee, evening
cocktails or a top-shelf lunch spot with unbeatable views, while still enjoying the sun protection of the overhead hardtop. Wide, port-side steps lead up to the flybridge, where an elegant, L-shaped wet bar to starboard faces a wrap-around settee and pedestal table similar to that found below on the main deck. Overhead, a second hardtop that provides further protection from the heat of the mid-day sun can be opened at the push of a button to invite the afternoon breeze or permit dining under the stars. Far forward, a double-wide lounge to port faces the neat upper helm station to starboard. The aft end of the flybridge is kept wide open, allowing a variety of additional seating options, space to stow a second tender, and a truly exceptional dance floor for late-night tangos. Back on the main deck, wide promenades lead to the spacious bow, where a large, forward-facing wrap-around sofa with a folding table creates an ideal spot to unwind in peace. For those more interested in toasting themselves in the sun, an enormous triple or quadruple-wide sunpad awaits. Inside, the main deck salon features an inviting settee to starboard, facing an elegant cabinet that houses a concealed entertainment centre, including a large high-definition television which raises on a motorised lift. The forward end of the salon can be devoted to either more seating, or an indoor dining space as desired. Far forward on the main deck is the primary helm station, where a Raymarine glass dash provides full control over the yacht’s twin 1,650hp MAN diesels. When it’s time to call it a day, twin guest cabins below and a plush VIP suite in the bow cradle your guests in opulent luxury with their lightly textured fabrics, pale woods and indirect lighting – all of which work together to create the impression of this yacht having even more interior space than it already does. A little farther aft, the full-beam owner’s suite presents an enormous king-sized bed, elevated seating below its large side windows for enjoying that first cup of morning coffee, and a palatial ensuite head with his and her sinks, plenty of vanity space and a double-entry shower. There’s also twin walk-in wardrobes, underscoring the fact that this yacht is one hell of a lot nicer than my house. Hmmm.